Court Blocks NJ-NY Natural Gas Pipeline Over Water-Quality Concerns
A federal appeals court has dealt a significant blow to a proposed natural gas pipeline project running through New Jersey and New York. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline, owned by Williams, violates New Jersey's water-quality standards.
The 10-mile section of the pipeline in question runs through Middlesex County wetlands and under Raritan Bay, where it requires dredging the ocean floor. This process stirs up toxic contaminants such as arsenic and PCBs, which can affect marine ecosystems and human health.
Despite earlier approvals from both New Jersey and New York state in November, the court's ruling negates the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's certification for this section of the pipeline.
The project aims to transport fracked gas from Pennsylvania to serve over 2 million New York City homes. However, opponents argue that it violates New York state's climate law, which mandates fossil-fuel-free power by 2040.
Energy experts also contend that the additional natural gas will not provide additional power generation and transmission capacity needed for resilience and reliability.